Yale International Relations Association

The Yale International Relations Association, Inc. (YIRA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit student organization at Yale University. Founded in 1969 by a group of individuals who wished to promote a better understanding of global affairs, YIRA's mission is to raise awareness of and foster debate about international relations and global affairs through a number of unique programs. These include the Security Council Simulation at Yale (SCSY); the Yale Model United Nations Conference (YMUN); the Model United Nations Team at Yale (MUNTY); Hemispheres; the Yale Review of International Studies; a series of speaker events; international trips; and several independent initiatives, including conferences in cities across the world (such as Shanghai, Seoul, and Budapest); and the Yale Model United Nations Institute (YMUNI). YIRA also enjoys consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. With several hundred members hailing from 30 countries and pursuing virtually all courses of study, YIRA is one of the largest and most diverse student organizations at Yale University.